Chapter 7: Be Strong, Prove Your Innocence

When Tao Hua was carrying the blankets outside, Qin Feng was skinning a rabbit. Seeing her, he asked, “Do you need help?”

Tao Hua shook her head, “No, it’s not heavy.”

She then spread the blankets on a large stone, bending over to arrange them. She raised her voice and said, “Qin Feng, how about we make a clothes rack too? We could cut two bamboo branches with forks, and then put a bamboo pole across the middle. People in the village do it like this. We can lean it against the wall, and it would be convenient to hang clothes and dry the blankets.”

Qin Feng, who had been focused on skinning the rabbit, heard Tao Hua and looked up at her.

After just one glance, Qin Feng quickly turned his eyes away.

“You,” Qin Feng frowned deeply, unsure how to respond. After a brief hesitation, he said, “You’re bleeding. Go take care of it.”

Tao Hua, bent over, looked back when she heard him.

In her nervousness, her period became heavier, and she forgot about the blankets. Blushing, she rushed back into the house.

After some frantic searching, Tao Hua found a clean set of clothes but felt so embarrassed that she couldn’t even get up from the bed.

Not long after, Qin Feng came over and said through the window, “There’s no water at home. I’ll go fetch some from outside. I’ll be back soon.”

“Okay!” Tao Hua buried her face in the blankets and replied in a muffled voice.

Once she heard Qin Feng walk away, she quickly closed the door and changed her clothes.

After taking care of herself, she prepared to wash clothes.

When she went to get a basin, she realized that Qin Feng had already brought water from the mountain using bamboo.

There was no need to fetch water from outside, but he had said he was going to fetch it… He must have done it for her convenience.

Thinking of this, Tao Hua felt a warm feeling in her heart.

By the time Tao Hua had finished washing the clothes and hung them up to dry, Qin Feng returned, carrying water.

It was also around lunchtime, so Tao Hua prepared to cook.

However, she wasn’t familiar with the layout of the new house and didn’t know where the rice, oil, and salt were kept. Plus, her period made it hard for her to move around comfortably.

Qin Feng quickly noticed her difficulties and told her to sit by the fire and not worry about anything. He then took over, washing the rice and chopping the meat.

Tao Hua watched him chop the rabbit, and her mouth involuntarily watered.

Back at the Chen family’s house, they only ate meat once a year, during the New Year. Even the few chickens they raised were for eggs, and when the chickens finally laid eggs, Chen Dazhan would take them to exchange for wine.

No one, except for Chen Dazhan and her younger brother, Chen Bao, ever got to eat meat.

But to her surprise, her very first meal at Qin Feng’s house was going to include meat!

Tao Hua was excited and looked forward to it, but she didn’t want to seem too eager in front of Qin Feng, so she quietly swallowed her saliva.

Though Qin Feng didn’t stare at Tao Hua, he heard the sound of her swallowing.

His hand, which had been chopping the meat, paused for a moment. Then, he suddenly asked her, “Can you eat spicy food?”

“Huh?” Tao Hua was a little confused, but she quickly regained her composure and replied softly, “I can’t really eat spicy food.”

Qin Feng gave a soft ‘mm’ and didn’t say anything further. However, when he was stewing the rabbit meat, he didn’t add any chili, even though he liked spicy food…

After the rabbit meat was stewed, Qin Feng also stir-fried a plate of wild vegetables. When it was time to eat, he intentionally placed the rabbit meat next to Tao Hua, while he only served himself the wild vegetables.

The smell of the meat made Tao Hua’s mouth water.

But since Qin Feng wasn’t using his chopsticks, she felt too shy to reach for the meat and only picked the wild vegetables.

Qin Feng noticed this and frowned.

Tao Hua, always watching his expression, panicked a little when she saw his frown. She quickly withdrew her hand that was holding the wild vegetables.

Seeing how nervous the young girl was, Qin Feng suddenly smiled faintly, “You’re already married to me, why are you still so reserved? Go ahead and eat. I’ve already sent the good stuff to your house, so we’ll just make do today.”

Hearing this, Tao Hua became even more embarrassed. She lowered her head and said softly, “I’m sorry. You saved me with good intentions, but in the end…”

“Let’s just eat,” Qin Feng interrupted her before she could finish. “I’m not young anymore, and the house is missing a woman. Let’s just live like this.”

Tao Hua nodded, thought for a moment, then asked, “How old are you?”

“Twenty-five.”

“Oh,” Tao Hua’s voice became even quieter, “I’m sixteen. I’m nine years younger than you, but don’t worry, I’m good at taking care of people. I won’t just eat and drink for free at home.”

Qin Feng didn’t answer but let out a soft laugh.

Tao Hua, thinking he didn’t believe her, immediately looked up.

However, as she looked up, she saw a rabbit leg fall into her bowl.

She had planned to speak, but the rabbit meat smelled so delicious that, instead of speaking, she was more eager to taste it.

Qin Feng, seeing her eyes light up as soon as she saw the meat, said, “Eat first. We’ll talk about the other things later.”

Tao Hua nodded, picked up the rabbit leg, and tried to put it in her mouth.

But Qin Feng had cut the rabbit leg too big, and she couldn’t hold it with her chopsticks. It fell right onto the table.

Tao Hua felt embarrassed but didn’t dare to pick it up with her hands.

Seeing this, Qin Feng helped her pick up the rabbit leg and said, “Just use your hands. I’m used to eating big pieces of meat. I’ll cut them smaller next time.”